STOCKTON — The possibility that Mayor Anthony Silva may have secretly recorded a conversation with City Manager Bob Deis has been turned over to the San Joaquin County district attorney for investigation.

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By The Record

recordnet.com

By The Record

Posted Jul. 10, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Updated Jul 10, 2013 at 7:23 PM

By The Record

Posted Jul. 10, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Updated Jul 10, 2013 at 7:23 PM

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STOCKTON — The possibility that Mayor Anthony Silva may have secretly recorded a conversation with City Manager Bob Deis has been turned over to the San Joaquin County district attorney for investigation.

Silva said Tuesday night near the end of a 4 1/2-hour City Council meeting that he had secretly recorded a conversation with Deis earlier that afternoon.

If true, Silva could be subject to prosecution under California law.

Today, City Attorney John Luebberke issued a statement: “Generally, under Penal Code section 632 the intentional recording of confidential conversations without consent is illegal. We will be providing to the Council a confidential memorandum intended to educate them regarding this subject and the potential ramifications of failing to strictly comply with this statute. As for any criminal investigation, the matter has been referred to the District Attorney.”

Read Thursday's Record for more on this story by staff writer Kevin Parrish.

Mayor Anthony Silva's full statement:

At the end of a long counsel meeting, I voted for the compromise tax initiative that will put 120 cops on the streets of Stockton. This was a long hard fight to get an agreement to put this on the ballot by November. I have been continually attacked by the city manager in my efforts to restore public safety. After laying off cops and going to war with the very police that protects this city, we have finally turned the page to move this city forward. We now agree that cops matter. We will never be a great city until we are a safe city. When Bob Deis threatened me last night and denied it publicly, I was willing to refresh his memory with notes that I took from our meeting. I understand how he misinterpreted my words. I have told Bob privately and now publicly that his divisive strategy is not in the best interest of the city any longer. I will not be bullied for speaking my mind.